“God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” – 2 Corinthians 9:8
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, the Lenten season is right around the corner — soon, the Epiphany season will give way to Lent. The paraments on the altar and the stoles on the pastors will be violet. In our Sunday services we will take a fast from the singing of the Hymn of Praise and we will also refrain from speaking and singing “Alleluia” until Easter. An exception to this fast is during funerals, as every Christian funeral is a celebration of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead and his victory over the grave!
There are other changes that happen during Lent, too; changes for you! Consider for yourself the habits you have in your own life, and assess whether they are good or bad. In light of God’s Word and the Ten Commandments, examine your conscience. What habits need to be broken? What habits could you take up that would be beneficial? This is a useful exercise, and many Christians engage in fasting of some kind during the Lenten season as a means of focusing on Christ and fighting against sin and sinfulness. St. Paul in Romans reminds us that, “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”
Struggle against sin
“But…old habits die hard!” you might think. Indeed, they can be persistent, and temptations will resurface, but the struggle against sin is probably even more difficult than you might imagine. In the war against sinful habits, you are struggling not only with the weakness of your own flesh, but also with the temptations of the world and the works and ways of the devil! Without the gifts of God, replacing sinful habits would be entirely impossible! Thanks be to God, therefore, that he has not left us to wage this war by ourselves, but is with us and helps us in our struggles.
At church you will find fellow Christians who are waging the same battles, praying, and hoping, and who will support you, too! Everyone in the church struggles with sin. I know I do. No one has their own righteousness; our only righteousness comes from Christ! So, spend time with your fellow Christians; go to church as much as you can, for your brothers and sisters in Christ are your companions along the way! In short, God our Father has provided us with everything that we need for this struggle, and he will keep us by grace, through faith, into eternity! To him be all the glory, forever and ever!
Written by Concordia University Wisconsin’s campus pastor, Rev. Jonathon Bakker.
The Imposition of Ashes will be observed on Ash Wednesday during the regularly scheduled chapel time at 9:30 a.m.
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